Ishmael Beah
WHO IS ISHMAEL BEAH?1991, was the start of the Sierra Leone Civil War. Beah's hometown, Mogbewmo, was invaded by rebels and was forced to flee. Seperated from his family, he spent months wandering with a group of boys going down south. At the age of 12-13 years, Ishmael's family was murdered, father, mother, and 2 brothers. He was left devastated and did not know what do with his life. He then went to a military base, to look for safety. But instead of kept safely, he was pressed into going to war, and was forcefully trained to be a child soldier. He was feed drugs, and was desensitized, by the rebels killing people in front of him. Ishmael fought for almost 3 years before being rescued by UNICEF. It took time for Ishmael to adapt to a new life, as he was so attached to a soldier life. Then in 1997, by the help of UNICEF he fled to Freetown due to the increasing level of violence and then sooner or later found his way to New York City. Ishmael attended the United Nations International School
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Quotes-
"Shooting became just like drinking a glass of water" - Ishmael Beah
"We went from children who were afraid of gunshots to now children who were gunshots"- Ishmael Beah
“I was afraid to fall asleep, but staying awake also brought back painful memories. Memories I sometimes wish I could wash away, even though I am aware that they are an important part of what my life is; who I am now. I stayed up all night, anxiously waiting for daylight, so that I could fully return to my new life, to rediscover happiness I had known as a child, the joy that had stayed alive inside me even through times when being alive itself became a burden. These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of my new life, which trigger memories from the past.”
-Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
“My squad was my family, my gun was my provider and protector, and my rule was to kill or be killed. The extent of my thoughts didn’t go much beyond that. We had been fighting for over two years, and killing had become a daily activity. I felt no pity for anyone.” -Ishmael Beah
"We went from children who were afraid of gunshots to now children who were gunshots"- Ishmael Beah
“I was afraid to fall asleep, but staying awake also brought back painful memories. Memories I sometimes wish I could wash away, even though I am aware that they are an important part of what my life is; who I am now. I stayed up all night, anxiously waiting for daylight, so that I could fully return to my new life, to rediscover happiness I had known as a child, the joy that had stayed alive inside me even through times when being alive itself became a burden. These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of my new life, which trigger memories from the past.”
-Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
“My squad was my family, my gun was my provider and protector, and my rule was to kill or be killed. The extent of my thoughts didn’t go much beyond that. We had been fighting for over two years, and killing had become a daily activity. I felt no pity for anyone.” -Ishmael Beah